When it comes to understanding the history of the earth’s marine ecosystem, many people assume that the ocean, being as vast as it is, has remained the same for hundreds of years. Thanks to Dr. Drew Harvell, as well as the team that assisted her, the Blaschka family’s marine glass models were found, conserved, and restored to get a better sense of what the ocean contained over a century ago. Stuck at sea for two weeks, Blaschka saw all sorts of marine creatures swim along the edges of his boat, drew them, and later created them using glass to capture their luminescent detail. During the Rose Scholars Cafe this past week, we had the privilege of viewing Fragile Legacy:The Blaschka Glass Project directed by David O. Brian and featuring Dr. Harvell as she describes her career long research on invertebrates in the ocean. To see the incredible distinction of details that each glass model holds allows it to be tied to a particular species, class, and family, providing scientists greater knowledge as to what life forms the ocean once held.

It is clear that with the Industrial and Technological Revolutions over the past century, the earth’s biosphere has been greatly affected by global warming, which has lead to the disappearance of many species of marine life. Having grown up in South Florida my entire life, I have also noticed a change in the amount of marine wildlife that can be found in the oceans. There are fewer sea turtles each year that lay their eggs  on Florida’s shores, and more and more species are finding themselves in danger of extinction because of changing environmental factors. All across the nation, there are areas that once abounded with starfish, mollusks, and large fish that no longer see these animals at all. Factory plants, the excess use of fossil fuels, and the deterioration of the ocean floor is increasing as the years go on, and these glass models allow for scientists to gather data as to what creatures are no longer around and what others have had to adapt to stay alive. Hopefully, the work of biologist such as Dr. Harvell will reach the ears, eyes, and minds of more individuals to bring about a change in the efforts to conserve our oceans and all the creatures we have yet to even discover residing in it.